National Travel and Tourism Week 2016

To mark National Travel and Tourism Week, Philadelphia’s hospitality industry assembled its ranks in front of Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to put a face on an industry that generates $10 billion a year in economic impact in Greater Philadelphia and employs 90,000 people. The historical backdrop will be a central image during the Democratic National Convention this July, an event which will galvanize the region's hospitality industry and put Philadelphia in the worldwide spotlight. In the crowd of 200 were hotel employees, museum workers, National Park Service Rangers, small-business owners, sales and marketing professionals, the Phillie Phanatic, Mummers, Betsy Ross, Ben Franklin and Rocky re-enactors, along with the following leaders: Mayor Jim Kenney, City of Philadelphia; Julie Coker Graham, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau; Meryl Levitz, VISIT PHILADELPHIA®; John J. McNichol, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority; Cynthia MacLeod, Independence National Historical Park; James Cuorato, Independence Visitor Center Corporation; Sheila Hess, City of Philadelphia; Carrie Fischer Lepore, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development; and Greg Stafford, Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

The high-resolution photo galleries of the visitphilly.com pressroom contain downloadable high-resolution images. These images MAY be used for editorial purposes ONLY in magazines, newspapers and online; by non-profit organizations promoting Philadelphia tourism; and by for-profit organizations hosting meetings and conventions in the region. These images MAY NOT be used in advertising or in for-sale items. Photos MUST be accompanied by a photo credit that includes VISIT PHILADELPHIA and the photographer's name.

2016 Shows Record Visitation Again To Greater Philadelphia

Five-County Region Welcomed 42 Million Visitors Last Year

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® announced yesterday that Greater Philadelphia—that’s Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties—welcomed 42 million domestic visitors in 2016. This marks the seventh consecutive year for record visitation and a 2.4% increase over 2015. Of those 42 million visitors, 37 million (88%) visited for a leisure purpose. More

Philadelphia fans and potential visitors can now see the city in a new way before they arrive thanks to VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s 360-degree photography and video with virtual-reality capabilities. Visitors to visitphilly.com/virtual-tour will be able to explore 25 panoramic, 360-degree photos; watch a three-minute, 360-degree video; and view that video in

Funds Will Go Toward Expanded Marketing Campaign For The City’s Prized Historic District

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® today announced a two-year, $2 million grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts that will enable the tourism marketing organization to increase its promotion of Historic Philadelphia, an area that encompasses the Delaware River waterfront, Old City, Society Hill and Independence National Historical Park. VISIT PHILADELPHIA will use

16 Things To Know: African-American Philadelphia

From Colonial Through Modern Days In The City Of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection

Strength In Numbers:

The 2010 U.S. Census reported 661,839—that’s 43.37%—of Philadelphians are African-American, the city’s second largest ethnic demographic. More recent estimates show this population has increased by approximately 1% in the past six years.

The largest concentration—82%—of African-American Philadelphians live in North Philadelphia west of Germantown Avenue, Point

VISIT PHILADELPHIA Reports Record Visitation To Region In 2015

Another Record: $10.7 Billion In Economic Impact For The Year

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® today announced the sixth straight year for record visitation to the five-county region: 41 million domestic visitors in 2015, with 88% here for a leisure purpose. The year also brought record highs for tourism’s economic impact, which came in at $10.7 billion for the year.

Philadelphia Launches Campaign To Promote Its Original City

Marketing Effort Calls For People To See & Do More In Area Now Dubbed Historic Philadelphia

On Memorial Day weekend 2016, Philadelphia will kick off its busy summer tourism season by launching a new campaign that redefines and renames the city’s prized historic district, to be called Historic Philadelphia. The marketing effort touts the area’s powerful place in the country’s founding while also showcasing the restaurants,

VISIT PHILADELPHIA Wins Major Industry Award For Social Media

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® won an esteemed Gold Adrian Award from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for Digital Marketing Excellence. The awards were announced at a gala in New York City last night, February 16.

VISIT PHILADELPHIA earned the win for its “Surprise and Delight” program. Through the #visitphilly

New Design For Uwishunu.com Makes Loving Philly Even Easier

At today’s VISIT PHILADELPHIA® New Year’s Breakfast, the destination marketing organization announced a brand-new design for uwishunu.com, the what’s-happening blog of visitphilly.com. The popular site received 6.2 million visits in 2015.

“In short, the new uwishunu.com is designed to help people find more things to do, and